Packers GM Ted Thompson talks about his team

Nov. 17, 2012

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The Packers are down to seven healthy offensive linemen on their roster. When asked if he would consider bringing in a veteran to shore up that position, Packers General Manager Ted Thompson said:

“Well, I don’t want to speak to the offensive line specifically, but at all positions we’re always looking for an opportunity. If we see a chance to help our team, then we’ll try to make a move and help our team.”

When asked if he would consider bringing back Chad Clifton, Thompson said: “I would never talk about anybody specific.”

Of course he wouldn’t. Thompson likes to hold his cards very close to his vest so no one can see what he’s holding.

Thompson did talk about the versatility of his offensive linemen, which has helped the Packers in their time of injury need since right tackle Bryan Bulaga went down for the season with a hip injury.

T.J. Lang switched from left guard to right tackle, and Evan Dietrich-Smith, normally a center, filled Lang’s spot.

“I don’t know if it’s by design or not, but most of our offensive linemen in college played left tackle,” said Thompson. “I think there’s two or three exceptions there, but most of them played left tackle. That doesn’t mean we think they can all come in and play left tackle in the pros. But that’s just the way it’s worked out.”

That versatility has really helped.

“I think in general, most offensive linemen, whether they’re here or on another team or whatever, most have some versatility to them,” said Thompson. “The colleges and high schools and things like that, they’re in the same boat as we are. You get guys dinged up, you have to move them around. Most of these guys have played different spots.”

Thompson touched on a variety of topics during one of his first extensive interviews since the regular season started.

On where he thinks the Packers stand with a 6-3 record heading into the final seven games?“I think we battled through some difficult times and hung in there and we’re just trying to get ready for the next one. That’s the only thing you can do in the NFL is get ready for the next one.”

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On the controversial loss in Seattle: “We don’t talk about that anymore. That’s water under the bridge. We’re just looking forward to the next one. I don’t think it serves anybody’s purpose to do that.”

On Mike McCarthy getting his team to move on from that Seattle loss: “I think Mike does a really good job all the time of keeping our guys on point and focused. And that’s one of the things that come up. Things come up in the NFL. It’s not an easy business. Sometimes it turns your stomach, sometimes it drives you crazy, but that’s the way it is.”

On if that loss was more difficult than others: “They’re all bad. It was a long trip (home).”

On the breakout season of Randall Cobb: “He’s a very talented, gifted player. He’s also very focused on his craft. He wants to be good. I think he wants to be considered good compared to people around the league. He’s been a really good teammate, really sharp, does everything we ask. We haven’t done as much with him as Kentucky did. At Kentucky he did everything. But he’s done a lot.”

On if he’s worried Cobb could get over-used: “We don’t do a lot of worrying overall in general. Again, Mike’s got a good handle on the team, the stresses, things like that.”

On the contributions of the rookie draft class: “A little disappointed Nick (Perry) got banged up there and had to go on IR. But I think all of them have pitched in. You look out there sometimes during a game, there’s five or six rookies running around on the field all at one time. I think that’s a credit to our coaching staff. Dom (Capers) and Tom (Clements) and those guys, they do a really good job of using what we have. If somebody goes down, it’s who’s next?”

On the Packers’ improved pass rush this season: “You always want to do better. Every day you’re trying to get a little bit better. I think some of these guys have come in and helped out but we’ve got a lot of people contributing on both sides of the ball, and special teams as well, which is sometimes under-rated. I think they’ve done a nice job on the special teams end of it.”

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On the Packers’ depth in the secondary: “I think it’s everybody’s philosophy. You can never have enough of those guys. … You could be a first-year guy, a rookie or something like that and be on the 53 and sometimes go to sleep in meetings because you don’t think you’re going to be playing. But I think our guys, our coaching staff does a good job keeping our players ready to go.”

On the performance of rookie Casey Hayward and second-year man Davon House: “They’ve done a nice job. Certainly that’s not the easiest place to come in and play, corner in the NFL. Both those guys have done a really good job. Again, Joe’s (Whitt) done a good job of getting them ready.”

On the depth of the Packers’ roster: “It becomes more than the 53. It becomes additional guys beyond that. We do stress that, from the start of rookie minicamp going forward. It’s silly to sit around and count names and count numbers and try to figure out who’s going to make cuts and who’s going to play here and who’s going to play there. There’s too many balls up in the air. You don’t know how the balls are going to come down.”

On if he’s looking forward to the injured players returning: “That’s not in my view, that’s too far away. We’re focused on Sunday. We want to try and win a divisional game on the road.”

On if he likes five of the last seven regular-season games against division foes: “I don’t know, if they had been all in the first part of the season and we won them all, I’d rather have it that way.”

On if beating Houston and Chicago soundly proves the Packers are contenders: “I think we have a chance, if we play our best football, I think we have a chance of winning week in and week out. But that doesn’t mean anything. You just have to get ready and you have to play and you do the best you can and try to win the game.”

On if the Packers can win the Super Bowl: “We’re trying to win this Sunday. We’ll worry about next Sunday after this Sunday.”